Loading...
3 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
- Detection and quantification of selected cannabinoids in oral fluid samples by protein precipitation and LC-MS/MSPublication . Antunes, Mónica; Simões, Susana; Fonseca, Suzana; Franco, João; Gallardo, Eugenia; Barroso, MárioCannabis is the most widely consumed illicit drug worldwide. As consumption rates increase, partially due to the decriminalization of its use for medicinal and recreational purposes, analytical methods for monitoring different cannabinoids in several biological matrices have been developed. Herein, a simple and fast extraction procedure to extract natural cannabinoids from oral fluid (OF) samples was developed and fully validated according to the ANSI/ASB 2019 Standard Practices for Method Validation in Forensic Toxicology. Using only 0.2 mL of neat OF, the analytes [Δ9-tetrahidrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH), 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD)] were extracted by protein precipitation with a mixture of methanol:acetonitrile (80:20, v/v); the extracts were centrifuged, evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in 100 µL of methanol. Analysis was performed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The developed methodology produced linear results for all compounds, with working ranges of 0.1–50 ng/mL for THC, 0.5–50 ng/mL for THC-OH, CBN and CBD, and 0.05–1 ng/mL for THC-COOH. Ion suppression was observed for THC, CBN and CBD, which did not impair sensitivity considering the low limits of quantification (LOQs) and limits of detection (LODs) obtained (which varied between 0.05 and 0.5 ng/mL). The extraction procedure produced great recoveries, and the compounds were stable. No interferences were found, and the method proved to be extremely fast, selective, precise, and accurate for use in routine analysis. The method was successfully applied to authentic samples.
- Toxicological analysis of cocaine adulterants in blood samplesPublication . Gameiro, Rui; Costa, Suzel; Barroso, Mário; Franco, João; Fonseca, SuzanaBackground & Objectives According to the European Drug Report of 2017, cocaine was the second most widely used drug in 2016, with 3.5 million consumers between 15 and 64 years old. This pattern of consumption also occurs in Portugal (2012). Adulterants are pharmacologically active substances developed for medical purposes (analgesics, local anesthetics, antihistamines, anthelmintics and others). However, there is little knowledge about their influence in the human body when there is concomitant use with cocaine, such as an increase of cocaine toxicity even in non-toxic concentrations. The objective of this work was to validate a method that allows the identification, confirmation and quantification of cocaine adulterants in blood samples collected in vivo or post-mortem. The studied substances (atropine, phenacetin, hydroxyzine, ketamine, lidocaine and tetramisole) were selected taking into account the literature review, the analytical standards and the technical conditions. It is also intended to make a retrospective study of the prevalence of these substances in cases with a positive result for cocaine or its metabolites, as well as their relative concentrations.
- Fatal poisoning by Hemlock water dropwort roots (Oenanthe Crocata )Publication . Costa, Suzel; Franco, João; Barroso, Mário; Carvalho, S.; Fonseca, SuzanaIntrodution : This report describes the history and investigation of a suspected plant poisoning event in Portugal, involving the death of two adult males, who have mistakenly ingested Hemlock water dropwort roots Oenanthe crocata during a 36 h resistance path in May 2017 in Santarém Portugal Six hours after beginning the path, they have called to emergency services for assistance because they suddenly become unwell reporting plants ingestion and describing that they felt nauseated, vomits, seizures and disorientation Both were found dead a few hours later in a rural area In their backpacks, in addition to food supplies, they had fennel and spearmint that were probably picked up on the route Further investigations by police authorities found that during that morning they shared several photos in social media, including screenshots of wild parsnips Pastinaca sativa.